FashBlog.com

by Paulla Estes

The song may belong to Neil Diamond, but the concept is one that true blue jean wearers all over the world hold near and dear to their hearts. Blue jeans symbolize not just a type of clothing, a style, or an era; putting on a pair of jeans represents an attitude and philosophy of life. Much like a person in uniform, whether military or not, proudly puts on his buttons, epaulets, awards, ribbons, medals, name insignia, shoes and hat, many people put on blue jeans to make a statement about who they are, where they have been, where they are going, and what they believe about life. Blue jeans signify relaxation, a hard day's work, tradition, and simplicity.

As a disclaimer, many people who wear blue jeans are not part of this "blue jean group;" they put on jeans much like a person might don a pair of camouflage pants though he is not affiliated with the military in any way. Many people dress in faux uniforms of varying kinds, but they are not claiming ownership of the establishment or organization the uniform represents. Blue jean wearers are much the same. For those of you who wear blue jeans as a convenience or to be in style, you are welcome and encouraged to wear them. And for those of you who know the philosophy and have claimed the blue jean attitude, you know who you are. Join me here as we attempt to explain it to the rest of the world.

Blue jeans are not new. Browsing through popular stores, we may see a plethora of types and styles of blue jeans, but the original jeans were created by the man whose name is often interchanged with the term, "blue jeans," Mr. Levi Strauss. Levi Strauss, a young Bavarian immigrant, arrived in San Francisco in the 1850s during the heart of the California Gold Rush.

Strauss' purpose was to sell canvas used for wagons and tents, and other dry goods, but soon found that the real need was in strong durable clothing, especially pants. Miners were rugged men with rugged ways and they required a rugged material to protect them from the elements. So Levi Strauss began making canvas pants. One of Strauss' best customers was a local tailor named Jacob Davis, who was originally from Latvia. Davis regularly bought the strong canvas from Strauss' business, Levi Strauss & Co., and made his own pants to sell to others, but found that he had one customer whose pockets kept ripping away from his pants. Davis tried every means to strengthen the man's pants, to no avail.

Finally Davis came upon the idea of attaching metal rivets at critical areas that are given a lot of strain, such as at the corners of pockets and the base of the button fly. The pants with the metal rivets were an instant success with Jacob Davis' customers, so Davis wrote to Levi Strauss, suggesting the two of them apply together to patent the riveted canvas pants. Strauss immediately agreed and in May of 1873, the patent was confirmed. "Waist overalls" was the original name for these new canvas pants that took the mining world by storm. Sometime during that same first year, the first Levi Strauss & Co. riveted clothing was made and sold. The word "denim" comes from French origins and fabric that was used in Europe to clothe slaves. From "waist overalls" to "denim" to "work pants" and back to denim again, these rugged pants became popularly known as "jeans" in the 1960s.

The strong cotton fabric was originally made at a mill in Manchester, New Hampshire. Word quickly spread and working men all over the country were hearing about the strength and durability of Levi Strauss' work pants. Sometime around 1890, the work pants became associated with the number 501, a number they still use today. As to be expected, the popularity of Strauss' work pants exploded into many copy-cat garments once the original 20-year patent expired. Companies all over the world began manufacturing denim jeans and they became more popular than any other clothing type. Blue jean wearers and lovers will agree that although there are many wonderful substitutes, the original blue jean still belongs to Strauss.

Today jeans are more than just clothing; to many of us they are a state of mind. To borrow the lyrics from another song, Waylon Jennings sang in his popular, "Luckenbach, Texas," to his sweetheart, "Baby let's sell your diamond rings, buy some boots and faded jeans and go away..." Blue jean lovers will understand this sentiment. The concept isn't about getting rid of the money so much as acquiring an attitude of simplicity and peace.

Let's face it, you don't wear jeans to fancy parties, elegant restaurants, business meetings, interviews, and upper-crust social functions. Jeans are for working on the farm, working with horses, working with children, working construction, working at home, moving furniture, hiking a mountain, cleaning a house, walking a dog, camping, having a picnic. Jeans are for taking a walk through the woods, hunting, climbing trees, rescuing animals, roping cattle, digging in the garden, and eating a home-cooked meal. Jeans are for going to the library, hauling lumber, shopping for groceries, taking the subway, touring a city, fishing, and relaxing at home.

Of course, one could argue that you could wear a variety of other garments to do most of these things, except perhaps roping cattle, but the blue jeans represent an aura of traditional thinking. Dressing up to go grocery shopping or working with children seems just a bit ridiculous. Sure, many people feel this is important, and that's what makes our world interesting: the fact that we are all different. But my wish for others is that they could know the blue jean philosophy, if only for a moment. If only they could know the mental comfort that comes with putting on a pair of jeans first thing in the morning and knowing you are "dressed" for the day.

My wish goes even beyond this. If only jeans were not just for weekend and dress-down occasions. If only businessmen, teachers, lawyers, doctors, accountants, and other professionals could whistle their way to work in a pair of blue jeans. I do believe this would make them whistle! Some people will balk at this suggestion; where would the professionalism be? How will we separate them from the rest of us if they dress like we do? That is exactly my point. We are all in this life together, working together, living together, relaxing together, and just trying to get by the best way we know how. Wouldn't we be doing our professional brothers and sisters a favor to encourage this simplistic, relaxed philosophy of life? Most people probably don't think so, but I know I do. Here's to the blue jean lovers everywhere: enjoy, smile, and remain forever in blue jeans.